Personally I think that a lot of the risk factors associated with breast cancer are ingrained into people’s lifestyles. I don’t have the statistics on me but I wouldn’t be shocked if there were higher incidence rates in certain groups of people such as immigrants and people of lower socioeconomic status which often has a lot of intersectionality to it as well. For example, people without education may not be able to find jobs that are as high paying as others and because of that have to work more hours which gives them less time to workout and cook good meals. If they are also of a lower socioeconomic status (which may be in part due to a lack of education) they may not be able to afford to live in a good area that is close by amenities like a gym, outdoor space, and grocery stores and may live in a food desert. In addition to this it’s also cheaper to buy fast food and junk food than it is to purchase the groceries required to cook a good meal. You may also consider the stress levels that people in these positions may experience, the elevated cortisone and inflammation associated with that and the inflammatory cytokine pathways they can become activated. Certain populations of people are also more susceptible to these challenges that put them at a higher risk for breast cancer, but these are not necessarily things that they choose for themselves. I think that the epigenetics of oncogenes and the BRCA1 gene in particular would also add a fascinating dimension to this debate as well, it certainly seems that social changes are impacting the science of our bodies and overall health.

Effective Public Health Strategies for Modifiable Breast Cancer Risk Factors

The most impactful strategies target lifestyle-related risks and integrate both population-level and individualized interventions:

· Lifestyle modification: Promoting physical activity, healthy diets, reduced alcohol intake, and weight management

· Health education: Community-based awareness campaigns tailored to sociocultural contexts

· Risk assessment tools: Used by primary care providers to personalize prevention plans

· Pharmacologic and surgical options: For high-risk individuals, with informed counseling,

These strategies are especially effective when embedded in broader cancer control programs that include early detection and equitable access to care.

Links:

https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2025/may/an-update-on-breast-cancer-prevention

https://www.paho.org/sites/default/files/2020-10/UICC_Prevention_Risk_Factors_FA.pdf

Modern times are characterized by a cascade of unhealthy habits and behaviors affecting the general state of the population. Their visualization will allow to show the consequences in a clearer way, for example: stimulants - nicotinism or e cigarette, alcohol, lack of physical exercise - scooters. These are among the few that negatively affect the health of the population. Games and games to activate the public, meetings along with demonstrations of minimally processed foods, education focused on self-examination and self-observation, or the possibility of specialized evaluation as part of prevention programs repeated often in a dynamic manner will allow to reduce the potential risk of disease or early diagnosis.

Raising awareness among female population regarding the modifiable risk factors and undergoing screening is the main key to reduce the incidence of Cancer and worst clinical outcomes. So, the healthy eating and healthy lifestyle should be a key message long with the provision of screening facilities.

So many questions all at once, but here it goes:

Q1: Why is breast cancer still a major global health concern? Breast cancer continues to challenge global health due to disparities in awareness, diagnosis, and care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Limited screening programs, cultural stigma, and weak health infrastructure delay detection and treatment, contributing to preventable mortality and widening global inequities (Belete et al., 2025).

Q2: What are the most important risk factors? Non-modifiable risks like age, genetic predisposition, and hormonal history are unavoidable. However, modifiable behaviors, including poor diet, inactivity, and substance use, are escalating in LMICs due to rapid urbanization and lifestyle shifts, presenting key intervention targets for public health strategies.

Q3: How do comorbidities influence breast cancer risk or prognosis? Comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension not only elevate cancer risk but also complicate clinical management. In LMICs, where chronic diseases are often underdiagnosed, they silently exacerbate cancer progression and reduce survival, especially when systems lack integrated care models.

Q4: What lifestyle changes are proven to reduce risk? Simple yet powerful changes like regular exercise, reduced alcohol intake, quitting smoking, and healthier diets can significantly lower risk. Breastfeeding and routine screenings offer added protection, especially when scaled through culturally sensitive, accessible public health campaigns in LMICs.

Q5: What is the significance of combining academic and public health perspectives? Integrating academic rigor with public health practice ensures that research informs scalable interventions. Evidence generated in local contexts can drive policy, shape programs, and elevate community impact, bridging the gap between data and meaningful change in resource-constrained settings.